Riverhead Town budget

In this guest column, Ron Hariri of Aquebogue spells out what he was trying to say during the Nov. 7 town budget hearing when he was ejected from the meeting.

Riverhead Police Sgt. Karli Conyers took the oath of office at the Nov. 7 Town Board meeting. Here's a rundown of other action at the meeting.

The Aquebogue man ejected from the Town Board meeting Thursday filed a notice of claim with the Town of Riverhead, declaring his intent to sue the town for $10 million in damages in connection with his ejection from a budget hearing.

In recent years, the hearing on the town's preliminary budget has often been brief, drawing little public input. Not this year.

Aquebogue resident Ron Hariri had his comments cut short during a Riverhead Town Board budget hearing yesterday, after he criticized the budget and called the town supervisor "an absolute disgrace." The supervisor cut the meeting's video livestream and called for police to escort the speaker from the room.

Proposed pay raises for the supervisor and town council members will be cut by more than half from what was originally proposed in Supervisor Tim Hubbard's tentative 2025 budget.

As the town faces rising costs and a potential tax cap override, Riverhead officials discuss community priorities ahead of the Nov. 7 budget hearing.

The Town Board set a public hearing for Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. on the town’s proposed 2025 operating budget and on a local law required to override the state-imposed tax levy limit. 

Letter: It's unfair that town officials are giving themselves big raises while their proposed budget, which pierces the tax cap, means residents will pay higher property taxes.

Supervisor Tim Hubbard's proposed 2025 budget calls for, a $4.1 million increase in spending over last year, requiring a 7.9% tax levy hike.